Anthropometric Parameters, Age, and Agility as Performance Predictors in Elite Female Basketball Players

Abstract

Garcia-Gil, M, Torres-Unda, J, Esain, I, Duñabeitia, I, Gil, SM, Gil, J, and Irazusta, J. Anthropometric parameters, age, and agility as performance predictors in elite female basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1723-1730, 2018-In addition to technical, tactical, and psychological skills, performance in playing basketball depends on anthropometry and physical fitness. However, limited information is available regarding such features in women. We hypothesized that anthropometry and physical fitness are associated with female basketball performance, and consequently, performance could be predicted using the results of certain anthropometric measures and fitness tests. Body parameters (age, height, body mass, skinfold thicknesses, limb perimeters, and lengths) were measured. Physical fitness capacities (jumping, agility with and without the ball, and speed) were measured by specific tests. In addition, game performance was assessed using technical statistics (rebounds, assists, and points) and the performance index rating (PIR). Teams ranked better in the regular season had smaller mean fat skinfold thickness and spent less time in the agility tests (T-Drill). Correlation analyses indicated that players with better PIR were older, taller, and had a longer arm span and greater contracted arm perimeter (CAP). Furthermore, those players had better results in the T-Drill test. Multiple regression analysis indicated that combined age, height, CAP, fat skinfold thickness, and time in T-Drill test yielded a strong predictor of PIR per time played. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that some anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of female elite basketball teams and players are highly associated with performance-related parameters. In addition, a regression model has been developed to predict the performance of female basketball players.

The Relationship Between Physical Fitness Qualities and Sport-Specific Technical Skills in Female, Team-Based Ball Players: A Systematic Review

“…Research in handball [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68] was the most frequently included teambased, ball sport followed by volleyball [69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80]. Other sports investigated included soccer [81][82][83][84][85][86], basketball [87][88][89][90], netball [91,92], lacrosse [93], and softball [94]. Female participant sample sizes ranged from 10 to 246, with ball players involved in varied competitions from non-elite (15 studies, 37%) to elite/national game-play level (26 studies, 63%).…”

“…A range of methods were used to measure the 11 physical fitness components. Agility qualities were investigated by 13 (32%) studies [55,56,61,71,72,79,81,84,85,[88][89][90]92]. Balance ability was measured in only four (10%) studies [57,72,83,93].…”

“…Reaction time was the least investigated physical fitness measure, with only two studies (5%) assessing this attribute [77,79]. Finally, 12 (29%) studies included speed measures in their analysis [56,58,61,65,68,81,84,85,[88][89][90]92]. Table 3 demonstrates the critical appraisal score for each of the included studies in the review.…”

“…Five studies investigated associations between physical fitness outcomes and movement with a ball (using hands or feet) sport-specific technical skills. Four studies focused on dribbling or juggling skills with a soccer ball [84][85][86] and basketball [89], with the remaining study investigated running speed with a handball [55]. All studies were considered to have fair/good methodological quality with low ROB.…”

“…Seven (58%) studies focused on volleyball offensive technical skills, such as spike jump and serve [70,72,73,75,77,79,80]. Four (33%) studies investigated basketball offensive technical skills, including assists and points [87][88][89][90], with the remaining study examining successful netball catches and passes [92]. One (8%) study was considered to have high ROB [70].…”